Paying for someone's hotel stay and hold

[KatieCharlotte]

If my over-21 college student adult child takes my teenage child to Universal and I book Aventura for them, I assume I can use my credit card and pay the full amount online or by calling prior to their stay? This would be a Christmas gift, and I can't go this trip.

The more challenging part I assume is the hold. They both have debit cards, not credit cards. The adult has only stayed at inexpensive hotels that use very small holds. I don't even pay attention to the amount of hold on my credit cards at Universal. How much should we prepare for on a four night trip? In an ideal world, they would use my credit card to charge meals to the room like they do when we're all there together, but that probably isn't possible?

 

[Robo56]

Unless something has changed the card holder who made the ressie has to be there. They do ask for your credit card you made the reservation with on check in as well as your ID/Drivers license to confirm you are the cardholder on check inn.

If you do not want a hold on your credit card for charging back to the room they can just go ahead and charge for the full remainder of the your four night stay upfront on check in. Of course you already have paid for one nights stay on reservation hold. They can tell them they will not be charging back to the room. They can ask on check in if this can still be done.

Also I would give the resort a call ahead of time to ask any questions you may have directly. I think the fact that you who made the reservation with your credit card and you will not be there will be the monkey Wrench in this reservation even though this is a Christmas gift.

The use of debit cards for room charging holds is pretty tough for some young folks as this can hold up money you depend on. Thats why having a credit card for hotel stays does help.

Always ask for a paper copy of room charges etc….when you check out to make sure there are no issues before you walk away from the desk.

I hope there is a way you can work this out. Nice Christmas gift.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Can you add one or both of them to your credit card account as additional cardholders? Then use the card under the adult child’s name to pay the final balance and they take it with them to use at check in.

 

[Charade67]

I used my credit card to pay the deposit for my daughter's room but she will be paying the balance with Universal gift cards. I've also added her as an authorized user on my card with strict instructions that it is to be used only in an emergency.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The “over 21” doesn’t even have their own basic cc? You should AU the over 21 for sure. Since they still haven’t gotten themself a cc they have no credit history and are hurting their future finances. If you AU them it will show on their credit history and start to help them (assuming you are responsible on the card and always pay it). You can set spend limits on AU cards or terminate them at will.

I’d also make the teen an AU so you can work at building their credit history. That ship is sailing away on the older one but no need to make the same mistake twice. You don’t even have to give the teen the card.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I think you can also limit their total charge amount allowed per month.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I don't know how it particularly works at the UO hotels, but at normal hotels you can complete a credit card authorization form and that will cover whatever you want. If you have set up the form to cover any charges, then they can charge back to the room no problem.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

The “over 21” doesn’t even have their own basic cc? You should AU the over 21 for sure. Since they still haven’t gotten themself a cc they have no credit history and are hurting their future finances. If you AU them it will show on their credit history and start to help them (assuming you are responsible on the card and always pay it). You can set spend limits on AU cards or terminate them at will.

I’d also make the teen an AU so you can work at building their credit history. That ship is sailing away on the older one but no need to make the same mistake twice. You don’t even have to give the teen the card.

The ship is sailing away? That seems a bit overdramatic, but I'm not arguing the point except to say that credit cards are much more convenient but many adults use debit cards (or even just cash) and there isn't an age where you can't rebuild really bad credit much less build credit.

I know that I've said before at check in that I don't remember which card I used for the deposit, and I've never had to show that specific card, just any card. One recent trip to Universal and Disney, staying at multiple hotels, everything was booked by me using my credit card and we showed only my husband's credit card for the rest of the payments and charging privileges. I've reserved other hotel rooms and bought airline tickets for young adult children using my credit card. We've never had a problem.

 

[Charade67]

My daughter will be 25 in a few days and still does not have a credit card. She's waiting until she has a full tome job before getting one.